Graduate Center for Public Policy & Administration

Welcome to the Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration (GCPPA) at California State University, Long Beach. The GCPPA offers a NASPAA-accredited MPA degree that is designed to prepare students to lead and manage productively in public and nonprofit organizations. The MPA degree is provided in both on-campus and distance learning versions. The distance learning program is an accelerated program designed for in-service practitioners that combines both on-campus and online education.

The GCPPA enjoys a strong reputation for excellence in graduate public affairs education. Established in 1973, the GCPPA has approximately 2,000 alumni in positions of prominence throughout the region. Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in government, nonprofit organizations, and academia. This network of successful graduates continues to be a great resource for MPA students in securing jobs and internships.

The program offers a dynamic approach to graduate public affairs education through a rigorous set of core and elective courses. The core curriculum consists of courses in budgeting and finance, human resource management, organization theory and behavior, policy analysis, research methods, and directed research. Students may choose from electives in areas such as leadership, nonprofit management, negotiating dynamics, employee-employer relations, strategic planning, urban affairs and many others.

In addition to the general MPA degree, the Center also provides options in urban affairs and public works administration along with certificate programs in employee-employer relations, public financial management, and public management analysis. Courses are provided in traditional on-campus, online, hybrid, and weekend formats to afford maximum flexibility to students.

I hope you enjoy exploring the website and learning more about the program!

Go Beach!

DISTANCE LEARNING COHORT 18!

NASPAA

The Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration's MPA program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy Affairs and Administration through 2023.